Ancestry Day Returns to Philadelphia on March 15

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Ancestry Day—a full day of genealogy classes at the Pennsylvania Convention Center—will return on Saturday, March 15. This popular genealogy event, sponsored by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) and Ancestry.com, is designed to help researchers start or hone their genealogical skills. Attendees will learn tips for navigating Ancestry.com’s website and will learn more about HSP’s archive and genealogical records.

This is the second year for Ancestry Day in Philadelphia; the first was held in March 2012 and attracted more than 1,000 registrants. We expect an even greater turnout this March! Tickets are $45 for the general public and $35 for members of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Tickets and more information are available at www.hsp.org/ancestryday.

Classes will include: Ancestry 101: New & Review; Getting the Most from Ancestry.com; Using AncestryDNA to Further Your Family History Research; Mid-Atlantic Records on Ancestry.com; and Sharing Your Family Story. Speakers will include Ancestry.com experts Crista Cowan, Lisa Arnold, and Anna Swayne. All attendees will be entered in a raffle to win memberships to Ancestry.com and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, copies of Family Tree Maker, AncestryDNA kits, and other prizes. The day will also include a live Q&A panel featuring staff from Ancestry.com and HSP, as well as a chance to meet representatives from local genealogical organizations.

NEW THIS YEAR! Ancestry Day attendees are invited to attend a second full day of events at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania on Friday, March 14. The Historical Society’s library will be open that day free of charge to all Ancestry Day ticket holders. There will also be free lectures and library tours, personal consultations with professional genealogists, and a welcome reception with an opportunity to chat with experts from Ancestry.com and HSP.

HSP and Ancestry.com have also been working together since 2002 to digitize and make available online millions of genealogical records. In the past two years, Ancestry.com has digitized 7.5 million records from HSP’s collection, including Pennsylvania church and town records from 1708 – 1985, indexes from the Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home; indexes from Pennsylvania Revolutionary War battalions and militia; and indexes of family history and Bible records. All these records are available online for free to HSP members via our website and to visitors to HSP’s library, as well as to subscribers of Ancestry.com.

About the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Founded in 1824 in Philadelphia, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania collects and shares the stories of Pennsylvania. It is home to some 600,000 printed items and more than 21 million manuscript and graphic items. Its unparalleled collections encompass more than 300 years of America’s history—from its 17th-century origins to the contributions of its most recent immigrants. The society’s remarkable holdings together with its educational programming make it one of the nation’s most important special collections libraries: a center of historical documentation and study, education, and engagement.

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Media are invited to attend the event. For images or to arrange interviews, contact the Society's Director of Programs and Communications, Lauri Cielo, at lcielo@hsp.org or 215-732-6200 ext. 233.